Need help keying this project?

This project is a collection of original documents filed in New York by people wishing to become citizens of the United States. These documents have information about the individual applying, their family, immigration details, and their life in the United States.

During post-roduction work for the New York Naturalizations Originals we discovered that there were records that had been misclassified. We have compiled these records into this project - part 2. We have updated the instructions and condensed the number of form types. We have also reviewed the images and know that the majority of the images should be keyed.

Most images will have two pages visible, only key from the document on the right-hand side.

Some of the images will have a label stating "Please note: document(s) repeated intentionally." These images should still be keyed.

Declaration

If an image has the heading "Declaration of Intention" or has the keywords "it is his bona fide intention to become a citizen" mark it as a Declaration.

Prefix

Key any titles before the Given name, such as "Dr", "Rev", "Mr" or "Mrs", using a dictionary if provided for assistance. If a prefix does not appear in a dictionary then key the prefix as seen. Do not key names of witnesses.

Given

Key the first name or initial and any middle names of the primary person to whom the record pertains using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a name does not appear in the dictionary then key the name as seen. The primary name can be found after one or several of the following phrases, "personally appeared [name]", "in the matter of the application of [name]", "the petition of [name]", "I [name]", or something similar. Key the most complete form of the name. For example, if one form has both 'Timothy P. Edwards' and 'Timothy Patrick Edwards', key the latter. Do not key names of witnesses.

Surname

The Surname is the last name of the primary person to whom the record applies. Key the Surname using the dictionary provided for assistance. If the surname does not appear in the dictionary then key the surname as seen. The primary name can be found after one or several of the following phrases, "personally appeared [name]", "in the matter of the application of [name]", "the petition of [name]", "I [name]", or something similar. Do not key names of witnesses.

Suffix

Key all titles, such as "Jr" or "III", following the surname of the primary person to whom the record applies using a dictionary if provided for assistance. If a suffix does not appear in a dictionary then key the suffix as seen. Do not key names of witnesses.

Alias Given

Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses, quotation marks, an asterisk or may be preceded by the word "nee". It may also be found next to the words "wishes to have name changed to" or something similar. Key the first name or initial and any middle names using a dictionary if provided for assistance. If an alias given name does not appear in the dictionary then key the alias given name as seen. Do not key names of witnesses.

Alias Surname

Key any Alias Surname which appears. Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses, quotation marks, an asterisk or may be preceded by the word "nee" or "formerly". It may also be found next to the words "wishes to have name changed to" or something similar. All the rules for keying a primary name should also be followed for keying any alias name. Do not key names of witnesses.

Record Day

Key the day from the date the record was created. For Declarations, this date is most often found near the bottom of the page next to the words "Subscribed and sworn to before me, this...". For a few types of Declarations, such as the preliminary forms, you will find the civil date in the middle of the page. See Samples for assistance in keying date.

Record Month

Using the dictionary provided key the three-letter abbreviation for the month the record was created. For Declarations, this date is most often found near the bottom of the page next to the words "Subscribed and sworn to before me, this." For a few types of Declarations, such as the preliminary forms, you will find the civil date in the middle of the page. See Samples for assistance in keying date.

Record Year

Key the year from the date the record was created. For Declarations, this date is most often found near the bottom of the page next to the words "Subscribed and sworn to before me, this...". For a few types of Declarations, such as the preliminary forms, you will find the civil date in the middle of the page. See Samples for assistance in keying date.

Birth Day

Key the day from the birth date when available. The birth date can usually be found following one of the following phrases, "I was born in [place] on the [Birth Date]", I was born on the [Birth Date]". If the birth date is in numeric format (ex. 03/09/1967), it is in mm-dd-yyyy format.

Birth Month

Key the month from the birth date, when available, in its three-letter abbreviation using the dictionary provided to assist you. The birth date can usually be found following one of the following phrases, "I was born in [place] on the [Birth Date]", I was born on the [Birth Date]" or something similar. If the birth date is in numeric format (ex. 03/09/1967), it is in mm-dd-yyyy format.

Birth Year

Key the year from the birth date when available. If you encounter a birth date with a two digit year and you can determine what century it was enter the four digit year. If you are unable to determine the century enter it as a two digit number. The birth date can usually be found following one of the following phrases, "I was born in [place] on the [Birth Date]", I was born on the [Birth Date]" or something similar.

Birth Place

Key the birth place from the record using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a location is not found in the dictionary then key the location as seen. Key every part of the birth place that is available. If the form only has a birth country, key that. If there are several birth locations, key from the smallest geographical area to the largest (aka. City, County, State), separating each place name by a comma (example: Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada, USA)

Alias Prefix

Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses, quotation marks, or may be preceded by the abbreviation "for" or the words "nee" or "formerly". Key the alias prefix using a dictionary if provided for assistance. If an alias prefix does not appear in the dictionary then key the prefix as seen.

Alias Suffix

Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses, quotation marks, or may be preceded by the abbreviation "for" or the words "nee" or "formerly". Key all titles following the surname, such as "Jr" or "III", using a dictionary if provided for assistance.

Arrival Year

Key the two or four digit Arrival Year for the primary person. This can usually be found among the person's arrival information after the word "Date" or following the phrase "I arrived at the port of [place]...on or about the [day] day of [month], anno Domini [Arrival Year]" or something similar.

Occupation

If available, key the Occupation of the primary person. This is usually found following the words 'by occupation' or 'my occupation is.'

Keying Image Samples

Petition

Petition forms may have a heading of "Petition for Naturalization" or "Petition for Citizenship." If heading does not specify the form type look for the key word "Petition" or "Application" in the text of the document. See samples for clarification.Note: If there is a smaller piece of paper obstructing the view of the Petition form type underneath, mark the image Capture. There is most likely a duplicate image without the obstructing page that will be keyed.Key whichever fields are available for each image type. Some fields (Civil Dates) will be found on the Second Page that follows a Petition. Key this information onto the Petition form type. If there are any questions submit a query to the Vendor Manager.

Prefix

Key any titles before the Given name, such as "Dr", "Rev", "Mr" or "Mrs", using a dictionary if provided for assistance. If a prefix does not appear in a dictionary then key the prefix as seen. Do not key names of witnesses.

Given

Key the first name or initial and any middle names of the primary person to whom the record pertains using a dictionary if provided for assistance. If a name does not appear in the dictionary then key the name as seen. The primary name can be found after one or several of the following phrases, "personally appeared [name]", "in the matter of the application of [name]", "the petition of [name]", "I [name]", or something similar. Key the most complete form of the name. For example, if one form has both 'Timothy P. Edwards' and 'Timothy Patrick Edwards', key the latter. Do not key names of witnesses.

Surname

The Surname is the last name of the primary person to whom the record applies. Key the Surname using the dictionary provided for assistance. If the surname does not appear in the dictionary then key the surname as seen. The primary name can be found after one or several of the following phrases, "personally appeared [name]", "in the matter of the application of [name]", "the petition of [name]", "I [name]", or something similar. Do not key names of witnesses.

Suffix

Key all titles, such as "Jr" or "III", following the surname of the primary person to whom the record applies using a dictionary if provided for assistance. If a suffix does not appear in a dictionary then key the suffix as seen. Do not key names of witnesses.

Alias Prefix

Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses, quotation marks, or may be preceded by the abbreviation "for" or the words "nee" or "formerly". Key the alias prefix using a dictionary if provided for assistance. If an alias prefix does not appear in the dictionary then key the prefix as seen.

Alias Given

Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses, quotation marks, an asterisk or may be preceded by the word "nee". It may also be found next to the words "wishes to have name changed to" or something similar. Key the first name or initial and any middle names using a dictionary if provided for assistance. If an alias given name does not appear in the dictionary then key the alias given name as seen. Do not key names of witnesses.

Alias Surname

Key any Alias Surname which appears. Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses, quotation marks, an asterisk or may be preceded by the word "nee" or "formerly". It may also be found next to the words "wishes to have name changed to" or something similar. All the rules for keying a primary name should also be followed for keying any alias name. Do not key names of witnesses.

Alias Suffix

Occasionally an alternate name may be recorded for a given individual. This name may be denoted by parentheses, quotation marks, or may be preceded by the abbreviation "for" or the words "nee" or "formerly". Key all titles following the surname, such as "Jr" or "III", using a dictionary if provided for assistance.

Occupation

If available, key the Occupation of the primary person. This is usually found following the words 'by occupation' or 'my occupation is.'

Birth Day

Key the Birth Day from the birth date. The birth date can usually be found following one of the following phrases, "I was born in [place] on the [Birth Date]", I was born on the [Birth Date]" or something similar. If the birth date is in numeric format (ex. 03/09/1967), the day is the second set of numbers ('09' in the example above).

Birth Month

Key the Birth Month (Jan-Dec) from the birth date. The birth date can usually be found following one of the following phrases, "I was born in [place] on the [Birth Date]", I was born on the [Birth Date]" or something similar. If the birth date is in numeric format (ex. 03/09/1967), the month is the first set of numbers ('03' in this example).

Birth Year

Key the two or four digit number designated as the birth year in the birth date. The birth date can usually be found following one of the following phrases, "I was born in [place] on the [Birth Date]", I was born on the [Birth Date]" or something similar.

Birth Place

Key the birth place from the record using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a location is not found in the dictionary then key the location as seen. Key every part of the birth place that is available. If the form only has a birth country, key that. If there are several birth locations, key from the smallest geographical area to the largest (aka. City, County, State), separating each place name by a comma (example: Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada, USA)

Spouse Given

The Spouse Given is the first name or initial and any middle names of the spouse of the primary person to whom the record applies. This can usually be found following the phrase "My [wife's/husband's] name is________." Key the Spouse Given name using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a spouse given name does not appear in the dictionary then key the spouse given name as seen.

Spouse Surname

The Spouse Surname is the first name or initial and any middle names of the spouse of the primary person to whom the record applies. This can usually be found following the phrase "My [wife's/husband's] name is________." Key if available following the spouse given name. Key the Spouse Surname name using the dictionary provided for assistance. If a spouse surname name does not appear in the dictionary then key the spouse given name as seen.

Children

If available, key the Children of the primary person. Children's names are most often found on petitions for naturalization and can usually be found in list form following the phrase "I have [number] children and the name, date, and place of birth, and place of residence of each of said children is as follows:." Please key the given name of each child in the list separated by commas.

Civil Day

Key the date as it appears on the image. Key the date the record was created. (ex. for a Petition, key the petition date; for a Declaration, key the declaration date; etc.). For Petitions, this date is most often found at the bottom of the page under either the sub-heading "when oath administered by designated examiner" or "when oath administered by clerk or deputy clerk of court." If a date is found in both places, key the date under the 'Clerk' heading. For other types of Petition forms the date may simply be found next to the words "Dated this..." at the bottom of the page. See all Samples for assistance in keying date.NOTE: For certain Petitions, the civil day, month, and year will be on a Second Page that follows a Petition. Please key this information onto the preceding Petition form type.

Civil Month

Key the Civil Month from the civil date as it appears on the image. The civil date is the date the record was created (ex. for a Petition, key the petition date; for a Declaration, key the declaration date; etc.). In most cases this will be the date nearest the bottom of the image.

Civil Year

Key the Civil Year from the civil date as it appears on the image. The civil date is the date the record was created (ex. for a Petition, key the petition date; for a Declaration, key the declaration date; etc.). In most cases this will be the date nearest the bottom of the image.

Arrival Year

Key the two or four digit Arrival Year for the primary person. This can usually be found among the person's arrival information after the word "Date" or following the phrase "I arrived at the port of [place]...on or about the [day] day of [month], anno Domini [Arrival Year]" or something similar.

Keying Image Samples

Cover page, Section header, etc.

Use the “Cover page, Section header, etc” type for images that don’t contain any data, but might be interesting to look at because they provide some type of context for the image set. For instance, historical notes, affidavits, and so forth.

Additional Image Sample

Image with no data

Use the “Image with no data” type for images that don’t contain any data or any useful context that might be interesting for someone to look at. For instance, an image containing only the blank background or an image with a microfilm target on it.